New York Jets: 5 Ways Gang Green Can Build off of Early Successes

Joe Sargent/Getty ImagesThe New York Jets are 1-1 heading into Week 3, but there are still some things that they can build off from this early in the season.

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The New York Jets will enter Week 3 with a record of 1-1—just like everyone else in the AFC East—but there are things that the record does not show. Gang Green has had many positives taken away from these first two games, and if Rex Ryan is smart enough, he'll allow his team to build off of those early successes.

While New York just lost Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, there were some other things that were concrete evidence that this Jets team could become successful if they put themselves on that path.

Mark Sanchez Must Continue to Mature

Joe Sargent/Getty ImagesMark Sanchez has somewhat had success against the Steelers in his career.

Mark Sanchez does not look like the same quarterback we saw last season.

Instead, it appears Sanchez has matured and is making the correct throws—not forcing passes that shouldn't be thrown in the first place.

The Jets' quarterback has one interception on the year, one that could be argued because it really wasn't his fault in the first place.

At this time last season, Sanchez had already thrown three picks, and was going on the fourth in Week 3.

It appears that Mark has realized that the New York Jets success hinges on his shoulder—literally.

I believe Mark Sanchez can lead this team to victory. In an interesting New York Daily News article by Gary Myers, the author examines just how Sanchez has elevated his game and worthy foes that have crumbled at his feet.

Sanchez: 54-of-89 (60.6%) for 616 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.

Manning, Brady, Big Ben: 57-of-90 (63.3%) for 657 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Sanchez did that in his second year in the NFL. In Eli Manning's fourth year, he outplayed the trio of Tony Romo, Brett Favre and Brady in consecutive playoff games. Sanchez' group had six Super Bowl rings. Manning's group had four. The difference, of course, is that Manning finished the job.

The Jets' quarterback has to play smart leading up to big games, and if he does, New York will be very, very successful.

Chemistry Between Mark Sanchez and Stephen Hill

Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRERookie Stephen Hill has developed chemistry with quarterback Mark Sanchez, and this could only mean good things for the Jets' future success.

Wide receiver Stephen Hill clearly developed enough chemistry with Mark Sanchez this preseason to make him a favorite for the Jets' quarterback.

In his debut for Gang Green, Hill had five receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns, but if the Jets are going to build upon the success that Hill has depicted, they're going to need to make him the go-to guy.

With Santonio Holmes' ego, many can question if Hill will ever be able to shine the way his potential suggests.

Hill, a wide receiver coming from Georgia Tech, stands 6'5" and has great speed. He also has average hands, but he runs routes with precision.

See where his contributions can lead New York towards success?

With the chemistry between receiver and quarterback only improving between now and Week 17, it's clear that this could be a deciding factor in progressing and building off of the success week in and week out.

"I do think that of all people, Rex Ryan knows how to use and motivate a player like Coples. We have since learned that Rex told Coples he would draft him if he was there, and that tells me that Rex is pretty jazzed up about this guy."

Rex Ryan can certainly mold Coples to be the player he wants him to be, and if that happens, the Jets might have found the cornerstone of the future of their defense, especially if Rex Ryan remains with the team.

Although he's been a slow start during the regular season, Quinton's production will pick up and others among the Jets' defensive corps will feed off of this and turn this season into one that will be memorable.

Rex Ryan Must Show He's the Best Defensive Coach

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty ImagesRex Ryan is a defensive-minded head coach, and he believes, like others, that he's the best defensive head coach in the NFL.

Well, apparently Rex Ryan believes that he's the best defensive head coach in all of the NFL, and Gang Green has to build upon that if they want to be remotely successful in the future.

According to a New York Daily News article written by Manish Mehta, Rex Ryan had nothing but good things to say...about himself.

“You know what? I look at myself as the best defensive coach in football,” Ryan said after the Jets’ first training camp practice on Friday. “That’s saying something because Dick LeBeau is pretty darn good. Bill Belichick is pretty good. But that’s the way I’ve always believed. And you know what? I believe it because (of) the guys I coach with, there’s no doubt about that. And the guys I’ve coached. But that’s the truth. That’s kind of how I feel.”

When healthy, and Darrelle Revis is in the lineup, New York is a deadly team in all aspects of the defensive game.

The Jets have to build on this and continue to be a great defensive team.